Bombardier and Sherbrooke University unveil all-electric Can-Am Spyder

An all-electric powertrain version of the Can-Am Spyder, created by Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), has been unveiled as a concept vehicle, a collaboration with the Centre des technologies avancées (CTA) at Sherbrooke University.
BRP’s standard Can-Am Spyder internal combustion engine model has proven successful, delivering its 100,000th unit last year.
“The CTA’s expertise is focused on vehicle electrification, mechatronics, lightweighting, connectivity as well as noise and vibration management,” said CTA’s general manager Pascal Ranger. “We adopt a predictive engineering approach to reduce development costs and time for our clients.”
Both the combustion engine and all-electric models sport the same single rear drive wheel with two front wheels for steering.
Unlike the standard Can-Am Spyder, the zero emission electric version is a fully functional 100% electric concept vehicle, with a range of 170 km (105 miles), using a a CTA-patented 16 kW/h battery pack, powering a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, rated at 50 kW (68 PS/67 HP) and 200 Nm (148 lb-ft) of torque.
BRP and the CTA began their electric Can-Am Spyder collaboration in December 2010, with participation from over 20 post-graduate students, which was finally unveiled at the Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition (EVS29) at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in June.
The electric Can-Am Spyder cost a total of C$11.3 million to develop, led by BRP and the CTA, with involvement from Automotive Partnership Canada, Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council of Canada, InnovÉÉ  and Canada Foundation for Innovation.
The Centre de technologies avancées BRP at the Université de Sherbrooke is a non-profit organization specializing in the fields of vehicle electrification, lightweighting, mechatronics, connectivity as well as NVH management.
While the recently unveiled electric Can-Am Spyder’s function is as a concept car to be touted at vehicle expositions, Bombardier Recreational Products has yet to announce plans for bring a production version to market.